Sold (Not Counting - What Despair Looks Like)

I can't believe that Lakshmi is actually sad that the guy who held her hasn't come back. I don't really understand. Sure, he may have been gentle, but he still took advantage of her. He still went to Happiness House in order to gain pleasure. I feel bad that she is becoming so connected to him. I think she is going to get hurt, because he probably won't come back.

The David Beckham boy's name is Harish. Harish has been teaching Lakshmi many new words. One day he tells her it is the festival of brothers and sisters. He bought her a shiny new yellow pencil. I think that Lakshmi is very surprised about this. No one really shows her much love in Happiness House, and even back at the mountain, they did not have any money to spend on things such as pencils. I think that she is taken aback by such a generous thought. I also think that she is very happy that Harish likes her enough to buy her a gift. She said that the pencil smelled of possibility. I think that it represents what she can learn and write now, but also a brighter future. The pencil is bright yellow, like the sun. I hope it leads Lakshmi to a better place in her life. Lakshmi decides to give Harish a gift. He loves soccer, and kicks around rotten melons all day long. Lakshmi used her old clothes to make him a soccer ball. I think this was very generous. It shows how much Lakshmi likes Harish. Although she can no longer smell the mountain air on those clothes, they still represent her past and are some of the few things she has to remember her home.

Lakshmi gets sick, and Mumtaz has no mercy. She tells her to get out of bed and go to work. She has a high fever, and cannot move and Mumtaz is only thinking of the money she is losing! Soon Mumtaz gives her some pills to take to make her better, but Lakshmi has to pay for them. I don't see how Lakshmi will ever get out of here. Her debts are building up, and she makes very little when you take out all of the things that Mumtaz charges her for. I don't think Mumtaz plans to let her go until she is of no use to Mumtaz.

When Monica returns to the house and tells Lakshmi how her family had disowned her, I think Lakshmi is almost scared. She does not know how Monica got into this place, but surely she didn't come on her own free will. I think she is worried about what her own family will say to her, now that she is a disgrace. I think it is so sad that Monica's family told her own daughter that she had died! Monica worked so hard to pay for everything that her family needed. She finally had enough to pay off Mumtaz and return home, only to find that she is not wanted there, despite everything she had provided them with.

When Harish's mom is sick again, Mumtaz decides to throw them out on the street. The only way she will keep them is if Pushpa (Harish's mom) gives Mumtaz her baby girl for later use. Of course she says no. I cannot imagine someone even daring to ask for a baby girl. Mumtaz is really pure evil. All she thinks about is the price she can fetch for girls. I feel so bad for Harish and his family. They have no money and no place to go! I also feel bad for Lakshmi. She really liked Harish...